"Portrait & Biographical Record of the Willamette Valley Oregon."  Chapman 
Publishing Company, 1903. p. 716.
 
WILLIAM WESS

     substantially identified with farming interests in Yamhill county, was born
in Germany, February 19, 1847, his parents, John and Kate Wess, being also
natives of the Fatherland. John Wess was a cabinetmaker by trade, and came to
America when his son William was very young. After spending some time in New
York City he came on to Wisconsin, and worked at his trade in Milwaukee for the
balance of his life, his death occurring in 1852. There were but three children
in his family, two sons and one daughter.
     After the death of his father William Wess lived with his mother and
brother and sister, and although they were in somewhat straitened circumstances,
he managed to receive a fair education at the public schools of Milwaukee, and
to gain a slight knowledge of general business. At the age of seventeen: he
availed himself of the opportunity to serve his country as a soldier, and in
1864 enlisted in Company E, Thirty-eighth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, as a
private, and was sent to Madison, then to Washington, and later to the front as
a member of the Army of the Potomac. He participated in the battle of the
Wilderness, Petersburg, Spotsylvania, Appomattox Court House, Richmond and many
others, and was mustered out in August, 1865, thereafter returning to his former
home in Wisconsin. After attending school for a year and a half Mr. Wess
repaired to northern Wisconsin and worked for several years in the sawmills,
afterward continuing in that line of activity in Menominee county, Mich.
     In 1875 Mr. Wess came to Oregon, and in Yamhill county bought eighty acres
of land, to which he has added by more recent purchase. Out of one hundred and
twenty acres in his present farm forty acres are under cultivation, and many
improvements add to convenience and profit of a general farming enterprise.
There is also an orchard of nearly five thousand fruit trees, including both
apples and prunes. In 1871 Mr. Wess married Sarah A. Coates, who was born in New
York and who is the mother of three children, of whom Ira J. is a resident of
eastern Oregon ; Hugh E. is living at home ; and Gertrude O. also is living with
her parents. Mr. Wess is interested in various fraternal and other organizations
in which Yamhill county abounds. A Republican in politics, he has served as
school director and clerk for a number of years, and is also road supervisor. He
is a welcome member of Custer Post, No. 9, G. A. R., and is past grand
commander. In religion he is identified with the Christian Church and was its
clerk for several years.
     
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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in June 2008 by Diana Smith.  Submitter
has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.